Paul e



(No Model.)

P. E.- RICHTER.

STREET LETTER BOX.

Patented Oct. 13,1891;

Imrenio Z WilneSses Atlorezeys.

UN TED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL E. RIo'HTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNoRTo JOHN H. ALLEN, OF

a sAME PLACE.

STREET 'LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,381, dated October'13, 1891. Application filed January 30, 1890. Renewed September 19,1891. Serial No. 406,268. (No model.)

T at whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, PAUL E. RICHTER, a citizen of' the United States,and a resident of the city of New York and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, ofwhich the following is a full and complete specification.

' My invention relates to that class of letterboxes in which a mail-sackis placed to re- IO ceive the letters as they are deposited in the box,so that when the mail-collector goes to the box to collect the mail hesimply detaches the sack from its fastenings and replaces it withanother.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my letter-box with thedoors of the box open and showing the mail-bags in position to receiveletters. Fig. 2 represents the form of mail-bag used closed. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the top of the mail-bag open and showing its meansof attachment to the box, the bag-holders being detached from the box.Fig. at is a plan of the mail-box with the top removed, showing thelocation of the bag-holders.

1 represents the box, ha'ving doors 2 2.

hinged to it.

3 is the drop-letter shutter closed. 4 is the mail-bag having a hingedframe 5,

to which the bag is secured and which is locked by a pair of balls 6 6,one secured to the center of each side of the frame and arranged tooverlap one another like a purse.- clasp.

5 7 7 are split tubes, funnel-shaped at one end and secured to theinterior of the letterboxin the position shown in Fig. 4, with thefunnel end next the door and the slit in the tube downward.

' into the slits in them.

The operation will be readily understood. 40 The. mail-bag, when opened,is provided with a ball secured to the center of each side of the frame,the ball being connected thereto by a neck. The balls are inserted intothe funnel ends of the tubesand the neck-pass The bag is now pushed intothe box until it is beneath the drop-letter slot, where it is sustainedby the tubes. The doors are now closed and the box is ready forthereception of mail-matter. When it is to be emptied, the bags are simplyrcmoved and replaced by others and the full bags either taken to thepost-oflice or emptied into the collectors cart and the empty bag putinto the next box.

It will be seen that many forms of structure might be designed toaccomplish the object which I have in view; but I do not intend to limitmyself to the form shown, but claim any similar and equivalent devicefor sus- 6o pending a mail-bag inside of a letter-box in such manner asto be easily removed.

What I claim is The combination of a letter-box provided on its interiorwith two or more split tubes, with a mail-bag the mouth of which isprovided on either side with a gib fitting into said guides and by whichthe bag is suspended, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of N ovember, 1889.

PAUL E. RICHTER.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER L. McOoRKLE, JAMEs L. STEUART.

